Weird new virus, hoax, hacker or misdirected messages?
From: Linda J. (lj86004@yahoo.com)
Date: 09/19/02
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From: "Linda J." <lj86004@yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 19 Sep 2002 11:34:25 -0700
Since you have Norton AntiVirus, you can click on it, open
it up, and click on the big help icon. Select Symantecs
web site, then select Security Check for home users. You
will be brought up with a page that allows you to use the
online virus scanner which will check your computer for a
virus or trojan in the event that NAV became corrupt.
A virus scanner all by itself with broadband needs a
firewall to reduce the risks of hackers using backdoors to
take over the computer. There are a lot of open ports
available for them to play around in and poke for
weaknesses. One without the other is like locking the
front door and leaving all the windows open.
My computer came with Norton Internet Security and Norton
Anti-Virus. It had a one year pre-paid subscription. I
didn't install Norton Internet Security because I was
pretty new with Windows XP, and the doggone thing wasn't
compatible with XP. So I used the built in XP firewall,
and since I had fewer problems with NAV installation, kept
it. My computer got highjacked and I lost control over the
computer. Someone had set up network adaptors I couldn't
touch, and before long I even lost administrative rights
over my computer. I spent too much time watching this
behavior occur and should have dealt with it immediately.
I wound up spending the 4th of July redoing my entire
computer with a factory restore because I did not trust
anything that was on it. I struggled with NIS and got it
installed and XP compatible with NIS patches, and forced
myself to figure out how to configure the firewall until
we pased the security check. It took some doing, but it is
easier now working with the firewall. Anway, since you
have broadband, try using the Symantec online virus
scanner and it will report back to you. It may take 20
minutes or longer, depending on size of HD and amount of
files and connection speed (which may vary according to
internet usage). Get yourself a firewall, or if you wound
up doing what I did and used NAV without NIS, get NIS
installed (or at least some firewall). Once you get
situated, keep that anti-virus scanner up to date. This is
very important.
>-----Original Message-----
>I asked a question about this 2 weeks ago (after seeing a
>possible similar question)in the virus discussion group
>and received a response that made sense, but didn't help
>much, mainly due to my inexperience with computer stuff
>and the weirdness of this situation. Hope I'm in the
right
>group now. If not, sorry. Here goes- about a month ago,
>while visiting a website, I pulled down the find text box
>to search for a word and before I could type anything in,
>a stream of words and phrases started running through the
>box. I watched this for a short while, and was stunned by
>some of the content and a little alarmed. My husbands'
>first reaction was maybe a virus. Considering how odd it
>was, he tried to save the text on a notepad, but the
>computer wouldn't cooperate. I then took out the old-
>fashioned pen and paper and wrote down alot of what was
>coming across. We have Norton anti-virus installed, and
my
>husband incorrectly thought Norton automatically up-dates
>and regularly scans on its own for viruses. He thought
>Norton would alert us to the presence of a virus, so
>concluded that it wasn't a virus. He found out how wrong
>he was 2 days ago, when he finally tried to do a whole
>system scan, and discovered part of Norton's abilities
had
>been deleted in early July. Does anybody know of a virus
>or hoax that behaves like this? Anyway, this weird text
>has continued and at times spread to any and all text
>boxes, on-line and strangely; even off-line. People,
>places, events and\or would be events, very technical
>computer terms and phrases-all totally unfamilar to us
>appear at any time, day or night. We finally were able to
>save alot of it onto a notepad, and even took a small
>picture of it with the digital camera. Upon showing this
>to other people, several suggested we should contact the
>authorities- that maybe unsavory characters had somehow
>unknowingly tapped into our system with their
>conversations and messages. Does anybody know if this is
>possible? We can't do anything with Norton-like it's
>locked up or something-and my husband has decided to
>purchase another virus scanner- soon I hope- we need to
>see what, if anything, we are infected with. We don't
know
>much about hacking; could this be some really off-the
>wall, unfunny hacker? This only happens on I.E.6, we have
>had to use Netscape for Internet useage, because of the
>interference. All other computer functions seem to be
>operating normally, and no problems with files or e-
>mail.We have had XP- home edition-for approx.3 months. We
>have a broadband internet connection.The stream stopped
>for over a week, but started again yesterday morning.
Just
>for a short while though, nothing since yesterday
>afternoon. I apologize for the length of this, I wanted
to
>describe everything- because to us and other people who
>have seen it, this is totally weird(for lack of a better
>word.) Would appreciate any answers, opinions and advice.
>Thanks in advance.
>.
>
- Next message: Eric Metheny: "Re: Removing one of the OS's in a dual boot system"
- Previous message: Jupiter Jones: "Re: user password"
- In reply to: Kathy Dowdle: "Weird new virus, hoax, hacker or misdirected messages?"
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